System and method for optimizing layer three link aggregation in a mesh network

ABSTRACT

An information handling system operating a mesh network link aggregation optimization system may comprise a plurality of mesh access points, and one or more client devices connected via a plurality of wireless links forming a mesh wireless network. A processor may execute code instructions to generate a congestion score for each of the links based on measured traffic and quality of service of each of the links, determine the congestion score for a congested link does not meet a preset congestion threshold value, determine a location within the mesh wireless network in which to aggregate links between two mesh access points, based on availability of one or more radios, and transmit an instruction to one of the plurality of mesh access points to aggregate two or more links at the network layer at the determined location for simultaneous transmission on a single band.

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.16/270,125, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING LAYER THREE LINKAGGREGATION IN A MESH NETWORK,” filed on Feb. 7, 2019, which is assignedto the current assignee hereof and is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus foran RF front end solution utilizing a plurality of radio antenna systemsused with information handling systems. The present disclosure morespecifically relates to a method and apparatus for optimizing theaggregation of multiple links at the network layer between a pluralityof access points in a mesh network.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to clients is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing clients to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different clients or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific client or specific use, such as e-commerce,financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise datastorage, or global communications. In addition, information handlingsystems may include a variety of hardware and software components thatmay be configured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems. The information handling system may includetelecommunication, network communication, and video communicationcapabilities. Further, the information handling system may includetransceiving antennas for communication of cellular, and WI-Fi signalson a plurality of frequency bands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relativeto other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the presentdisclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings herein,in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an information handling systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a network that can include one or more informationhandling systems according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a home wireless network accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a link-aggregated home wirelessmesh network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a shared radio configuration foran office wireless network according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating multiple upstream linkaggregations for an office wireless network according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating multiple downstream linkaggregations for an office wireless network according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for configuring optimallink aggregation and routing across a mesh network according to anembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a method for determining one ormore nodes at which link aggregation may be optimally performedaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings may indicatesimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The descriptionis focused on specific implementations and embodiments of the teachings,and is provided to assist in describing the teachings. This focus shouldnot be interpreted as a limitation on the scope or applicability of theteachings.

As reliance on mobile information handling systems, “smart” devices, anddevices within the Internet of Things (IoT) in households and businessesincreases, a need for complete and reliable wireless access throughouthomes and businesses correspondingly increases. Many home and businesswireless networks include one or more dead spots or places in the edgeof the network where coverage becomes sluggish or unreliable. Areas ofpoor wireless coverage within a network may be caused by inefficientdistribution of resources across the nodes of the network, trafficbottlenecks, interference between nodes or client devices, and physicalobstruction of signals transmitted between access points and/or betweenan edge-network access point and a client device. Further, some mobiledevices may have a limited number of antennas or antenna systems withlimits on transmission power to further impact connectivity ranges.Current solutions to these problems include the use of signal repeatersin hierarchical networks, the use of mesh networking across a pluralityof wireless nodes, and the use of multiple radios across eitherhierarchical or mesh wireless networks. However, many of the currentlydeployed wireless networking solutions may be complex or expensive.

The use of signal repeaters may address poor signal reception in a givenarea by extending the operational range of a hierarchical wirelessnetwork. In hierarchical networks, wireless access points may include acentral router or gateway that transmits wireless signals to one or moredownstream access points. Each of the downstream access points in suchan architecture may operate to receive signals, but not to transmit. Assuch, all data transmitted to end devices in such an architecture mustbe received from the central router or gateway for that network. Signalrepeating or involves transmitting a wireless signal that does noteffectively service an area of spotty coverage to a downstream accesspoint that can then re-transmit or “repeat” the signal transmissiontoward a client device within the area of spotty coverage. In effect,the “repeater” access point may serve as another gateway device capableof transmitting signals to one or more downstream client devices thatare not receiving serviceable signals directly from the main gateway.This may form a chain of links connecting the main gateway with theclient device, including a first link between the main gateway and therepeating access point, and a second link between the repeating accesspoint and the client device.

The act of “repeating” or retransmitting the signals in such anarchitecture may be referred to herein as “hopping,” because data havinga final destination at a downstream client device serviced by the signalrepeater may begin at the main gateway, “hop” past the signal repeater,and end at the downstream client device. During such a hoppingprocedure, the signal repeater access point may receive the packetaddressed to the MAC address of the downstream client device, access aMAC address lookup table to determine which port is connected to theclient device having the MAC address associated with the packet, thentransmit the packet via that port to the client device having that MACaddress. This processing of the received packet increases the time ofdelivery of the packet from the main gateway to the client device.Because the time of delivery is increased in such a way during the “hop”taking place at the repeating access point, the data rate, or number ofbytes transmitted per second between the main gateway and the clientdevice decreases by at least half. When more links are used to form thechain between the main gateway and the client device, the access pointsconnecting each of the links must perform this same or a similar lookupprocess. Thus, when more links are used, thus increasing the number ofhops used, the data rates on each of the links of the chain are reducedby a value of the inverse of the number of hops. For example, if fivehops are used, the data rate on each link of the chain may be equivalentto one-fifth the data rate of a single link between the main gateway andthe client device. Thus, use of signal repeaters may fail to fullyaddress the problems related to dropped or weakened coverage in the edgeof the network because the signal transmitted from the repeater towardan area of spotty coverage may be much weaker than the signal receivedby the repeater, especially if multiple hops are needed to address theproblem. A solution is needed that does not have the unfortunate sideeffect of degrading the signal quality as it approaches the area ofspotty coverage.

The use of mesh networking may operate to decrease the number of hopsnecessary to reach an area of spotty coverage. In contrast tohierarchical networks, wireless mesh networks may connect a plurality ofaccess points directly, dynamically, and non-hierarchically such thateach node cooperates with the others to route data to and from clientsalong the most efficient path. Examples of current wireless mesh networksolutions may include Google Wi-Fi, Netgear Orbi™, and AirTies™ wirelessmesh access points. Access points in a mesh network may operate intandem to self-organize and self-configure using a routing algorithmsuch that workloads may be dynamically distributed across the network.Further, mesh networks may reconfigure routing around broken pathscaused by inoperable or poorly performing access points within thenetwork. Access points within a mesh network may transmit data to allconnected access points using a broadcast function, or may transmit datato an indirectly connected access point by data hopping according to arouting function. Further, mesh networks may either have a main routeror gateway device, or may be decentralized to create an ad-hoc network.An ad-hoc network does not rely on a pre-existing infrastructure, butrather, dynamically alters its infrastructure based on the routingalgorithm analysis of current traffic conditions across the network.Thus, an ad-hoc wireless mesh network may alleviate spotty coverageoccurring due to physical obstructions, and inefficient distribution ofresources across the nodes of the network. The effectiveness of meshnetworks in alleviating traffic across the network may increase as thenumber of nodes within the network increases. However, as the number ofnodes within the network increases, so too may the likelihood ofinterference, and the number of hops required to reach a finaldestination. A solution is needed to address the potential forinterference and decreases in data rates due to multiple hops acrossad-hoc wireless mesh networks, while preserving the effectiveness ofsuch networks to alleviate traffic issues.

Existing solutions to decreasing potential interference related towireless mesh networks includes transmitting data at a plurality offrequencies, bands, or channels. Each access point or node in a networkemploying such a method may have multiple radio access technology(multi-RAT) capabilities such that it may receive and transmit data on aplurality of frequencies, where data communicated on each separatefrequency represents an individual data link between access points. Forexample, gateway devices, access points, and client devices operatingaccording to the Wi-Gig standard defined by IEEE 802.11ad maycommunicate via a single data link at 60 GHz having the ability totransmit up to 7 Gbit/s of data across 5G cellular networks. As anotherexample, gateway devices, access points, and client devices accessing anad-hoc Wi-Fi network may use the unlicensed 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHzchannels. As yet another example, gateway devices, access points, andclient devices that may operate in the future according to the nextgeneration Wi-Fi defined by the 802.11ax standard may simultaneouslyprovide up to eight data streams on the 5 GHz frequency, and fourstreams on the 2.4 GHz frequency. The IEEE 802.11ax standard furtherallows for transmission at the 80 GHz frequency. However, most currentgateway devices and access points have a limited number of radiosavailable for transmission and receipt of signals. For example, manycurrent gateway devices include only four radios, and each radio may beused for either transmission or receipt of a signal on a single radiofrequency.

Increasing the number of data links between access points or nodes of anetwork may operate to increase the overall data rate between nodeswhile simultaneously decreasing the incidence of interference. Forexample, if a single node transmitting on the 2.4 GHz frequencyexperiences interference from transmissions of another node or anothernetwork transmitting at the 2.4 GHz frequency, that node may insteadshift to transmission in the 5 GHz frequency in order to decrease thedeleterious effects of such interference. As another example, if asingle node transmitting four data streams on the 2.4 GHz frequency addsanother eight streams on the 5 GHz frequency, it effectively triples thetotal data rate between itself and a receiving node. In other words,traffic between two nodes may be decreased by increasing the number ofdata links between those two nodes. The use of such multi-RAT technologymost effectively addresses traffic across the network by dedicatingadditional data links to portions of the network experiencing thehighest traffic. However, because the infrastructure of ad-hoc wirelessmesh networks is constantly changing, so too are traffic conditionsbetween and among the network access points and client devices. Asolution is needed to dynamically dedicate additional data links toportions of an ad-hoc wireless mesh network experiencing high trafficcongestion.

The mesh network link aggregation optimization system in embodiments ofthe present disclosure provides such a solution by optimally anddynamically aggregating the multi-RAT links at the third layer ornetwork layer of the open systems interconnection (OSI) model at one ormore nodes or access points of the wireless network experiencing hightraffic. Other terms for link aggregation may include port trunking,link bundling, network bonding, or NIC teaming. IEEE standards 802.11axand 802.3ad provide vendor-independent link aggregation solutions.Layer-three link aggregation in embodiments of the present disclosuremay involve combining a plurality of data links in parallel to increasethroughput and decrease deleterious effects of potential interference.Layer-three link aggregation further alleviates the problems associatedwith “hopping.” Because the aggregation is occurring on the networklayer, each node in the chain of links between the main gateway and theclient device associated with a packet need not perform the timeconsuming MAC address lookup that causes the data rates on each link inthe chain to decrease. Instead, the data rate for a link being receivedat a node performing link aggregation may be equivalent to the data ratefor the link being transmitted from the same node. In contrast, the datarate of both of those links would be decreased by at least half if thepacket were simply “hopping” past the node.

Current wireless mesh network solutions, including Google Wi-Fi, NetgearOrbi™, and AirTies™ do not support link aggregation at the third layeror network layer. In contrast, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system in embodiments of the present disclosure may testtraffic across all nodes in the network in order to determine links witha low congestion score indicating a low data rate. Such a low congestionscore in embodiments may be caused by interference and/or a high numberof hops in a chain. Upon determining a traffic congestion score for eachlink in the ad-hoc mesh network in embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system mayidentify a link having a traffic congestion score that exceeds a presetthreshold, and aggregate that link with one or more other links toincrease their combined data rates, thus decreasing congestion. Such amethod may then be repeated at regular intervals in order to account forchanges in traffic occurring throughout the ad-hoc wireless meshnetwork. In such a way, the mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem may dynamically dedicate additional data links to portions of thead-hoc wireless mesh network experiencing high traffic congestion at anygiven point.

FIG. 1 illustrates an information handling system 100 similar toinformation handling systems according to several aspects of the presentdisclosure. In the embodiments described herein, an information handlingsystem includes any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalitiesoperable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve,originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,handle, or use any form of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. Forexample, an information handling system can be a personal computer,mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone),server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a consumer electronicdevice, a network server or storage device, a network router, switch, orbridge, wireless router, or other network communication device, anetwork connected device (cellular telephone, tablet device, etc.), IoTcomputing device, wearable computing device, a set-top box (STB), amobile information handling system, a palmtop computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a communications device, an access point(AP), a base station transceiver, a wireless telephone, a land-linetelephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, aprinter, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, or anyother suitable machine capable of executing a set of instructions(sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by thatmachine, and can vary in size, shape, performance, price, andfunctionality.

In a networked deployment, the information handling system 100 mayoperate in the capacity of a server or as a client computer in aserver-client network environment, or as a peer computer system in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. In a particularembodiment, the computer system 100 can be implemented using electronicdevices that provide voice, video or data communication. For example, aninformation handling system 100 may be any mobile or other computingdevice capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further,while a single information handling system 100 is illustrated, the term“system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems orsub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiplesets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

The information handling system can include memory (volatile (e.g.random-access memory, etc.), nonvolatile (read-only memory, flash memoryetc.) or any combination thereof), one or more processing resources,such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit(GPU), hardware or software control logic, or any combination thereof.Additional components of the information handling system can include oneor more storage devices, one or more communications ports forcommunicating with external devices, as well as, various input andoutput (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a video/graphicdisplay, or any combination thereof. The information handling system canalso include one or more buses operable to transmit communicationsbetween the various hardware components. Portions of an informationhandling system may themselves be considered information handlingsystems.

Information handling system 100 can include devices or modules thatembody one or more of the devices or execute instructions for the one ormore systems and modules described above, and operates to perform one ormore of the methods described above. The information handling system 100may execute code instructions 124 that may operate on servers orsystems, remote data centers, or on-box in individual client informationhandling systems according to various embodiments herein. In someembodiments, it is understood any or all portions of code instructions124 may operate on a plurality of information handling systems 100.

The information handling system 100 may include a processor 102 such asa central processing unit (CPU), control logic or some combination ofthe same. Any of the processing resources may operate to execute codethat is either firmware or software code. Moreover, the informationhandling system 100 can include memory such as main memory 104, staticmemory 106, computer readable medium 122 storing instructions 124 of themesh network link aggregation optimization system 132, and drive unit116 (volatile (e.g. random-access memory, etc.), nonvolatile (read-onlymemory, flash memory etc.) or any combination thereof). The informationhandling system 100 can also include one or more buses 108 operable totransmit communications between the various hardware components such asany combination of various input and output (I/O) devices.

As shown, the information handling system 100 may further include avideo display 110. The video display 110 in an embodiment may functionas a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode(OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathode raytube (CRT). Additionally, the information handling system 100 mayinclude an alpha numeric input device 112, such as a keyboard, and/or acursor control device, such as a mouse, touchpad, or gesture or touchscreen input. The information handling system 100 can also include adisk drive unit 116.

The network interface device shown as wireless adapter 120 can provideconnectivity to a network 128, e.g., a wide area network (WAN), a localarea network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), a wirelesspersonal area network (WPAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), orother network. Connectivity may be via wired or wireless connection invarious embodiments, however a wireless connection to network 128 isdepicted. Wireless adapter 120 may include one or more radio frequencysystems and subsystems in support of wireless communications. Thewireless interface adapter 120 may include, for example,transmitter/receiver circuitry, modem circuitry, one or more radiofrequency front end circuits 126, one or more wireless controllercircuits, amplifiers, antenna systems 130 and other radio frequencysubsystem circuitry 134 for wireless communications via multiple radioaccess technologies. Each radiofrequency front end 126, antenna system130, and radiofrequency subsystem 134 may communicate with one or morewireless technology protocols. The radiofrequency subsystem 134 maycontain individual subscriber identity module (SIM) profiles for eachtechnology service provider and their available protocols for subscriberbased radio access technologies such as cellular LTE communications. Thewireless adapter 120 may also include antenna systems 130 which may betunable antenna systems for use with the system and methods disclosedherein. In some embodiments a network interface device 120 may containplural antenna systems 130.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, one wireless adapter 120 mayoperate two or more wireless links, and up to four wireless links, orone wireless link per antenna. In a further aspect, the wireless adapter120 may operate the two or more wireless links with a single, sharedcommunication frequency band such as with the 5G standard relating tounlicensed wireless spectrum for small cell 5G operation or forunlicensed Wi-Fi WLAN operation in an example aspect. For example, a 5GHz wireless communication frequency band may be apportioned under the5G standards for communication on either small cell WWAN wireless linkoperation or Wi-Fi WLAN operation. In some embodiments, the shared,wireless communication band may be transmitted through one or aplurality of antennas. Other shared communication frequency bands arecontemplated for use with the embodiments of the present disclosure aswell.

In other aspects, the information handling system 100 operating as amobile information handling system may operate a plurality of wirelessadapters 120 for concurrent radio operation in one or more wirelesscommunication bands. The plurality of wireless adapters 120 may furthershare a wireless communication band or operate in nearby wirelesscommunication bands in some disclosed embodiments. Further, harmonicsand other effects may impact wireless link operation when a plurality ofwireless links are operating concurrently as in some of the presentlydescribed embodiments. The proximity of concurrent radio transmission orreception in a shared band or interfering bands precipitates a need toassess concurrently operating antenna systems and potentially makeantenna system adjustments as necessary.

The wireless adapter 120 may operate in accordance with any wirelessdata communication standards. To communicate with a wireless local areanetwork, standards including IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards, IEEE 802.15WPAN standards, WWAN such as 3GPP or 3GPP2, or similar wirelessstandards may be used. Wireless adapter 120 may connect to anycombination of macro-cellular wireless connections including 2G, 2.5G,3G, 4G, 5G or the like from one or more service providers. Utilizationof radiofrequency communication bands according to several exampleembodiments of the present disclosure may include bands used with theWLAN standards and WWAN carriers, which may operate in both license andunlicensed spectrums. For example, both WLAN and WWAN may use theUnlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) band whichtypically operates in the ˜5 MHz frequency band such as802.11a/h/j/n/ac/ad/ax (e.g., center frequencies between 5.170-5.785GHz), and in the 60 GHz and 80 GHz bands such as 802.11ad. It isunderstood that any number of available channels may be available underthe 5 GHz shared communication frequency band. WLAN, for example, mayalso operate at a 2.4 GHz band. WWAN may operate in a number of bands,some of which are propriety but may include a wireless communicationfrequency band at approximately 2.5 GHz band for example. In additionalexamples, WWAN carrier licensed bands may operate at frequency bands ofapproximately 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1900 MHz, or 1700/2100 MHz for exampleas well. In the example embodiment, mobile information handling system100 includes both unlicensed wireless radio frequency communicationcapabilities as well as licensed wireless radio frequency communicationcapabilities. For example, licensed wireless radio frequencycommunication capabilities may be available via a subscriber carrierwireless service. With the licensed wireless radio frequencycommunication capability, WWAN RF front end may operate on a licensedWWAN wireless radio with authorization for subscriber access to awireless service provider on a carrier licensed frequency band.

The wireless adapter 120 can represent an add-in card, wireless networkinterface module that is integrated with a main board of the informationhandling system or integrated with another wireless network interfacecapability, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment the wirelessadapter 120 may include one or more radio frequency subsystems 130including transmitters and wireless controllers for connecting via amultitude of wireless links. In an example embodiment, an informationhandling system may have an antenna system transmitter 130 for 5G smallcell WWAN, Wi-Fi WLAN or WiGig connectivity and one or more additionalantenna system transmitters 130 for macro-cellular communication. Theradio frequency front end 126 and subsystems 134 include wirelesscontrollers to manage signal reception, amplification,modulation/demodulation, mixing, authentication, connectivity,communications, power levels for transmission, buffering, errorcorrection, baseband processing, and other functions of the wirelessadapter 120 according to various protocols.

The radio frequency subsystems 134 of the wireless adapters may alsomeasure various metrics relating to wireless communication pursuant tooperation of an antenna optimization system as in the presentdisclosure. For example, the wireless controller of a radio frequencysubsystem 134 may manage detecting and measuring received signalstrength levels, bit error rates, signal to noise ratios, latencies,jitter, and other metrics relating to signal quality and strength. Inone embodiment, a wireless controller of a wireless interface adapter120 may manage one or more radio frequency subsystems 134.

The wireless network may have a wireless mesh architecture in accordancewith mesh networks described by the wireless data communicationsstandards or similar standards in some embodiments but not necessarilyin all embodiments. The wireless adapter 120 may also connect to theexternal network via a WPAN, WLAN, WWAN or similar wireless switchedEthernet connection. The wireless data communication standards set forthprotocols for communications and routing via access points, as well asprotocols for a variety of other operations. Other operations mayinclude handoff of client devices moving between nodes, self-organizingof routing operations, or self-healing architectures in case ofinterruption.

In some embodiments, software, firmware, dedicated hardwareimplementations such as application specific integrated circuits,programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can be constructedto implement one or more of the methods described herein. Applicationsthat may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments canbroadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One ormore embodiments described herein may implement functions using two ormore specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with relatedcontrol and data signals that can be communicated between and throughthe modules, or as portions of an application-specific integratedcircuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware,and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by firmware or softwareprograms executable by a controller or a processor system. Further, inan exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can includedistributed processing, component/object distributed processing, andparallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processingcan be constructed to implement one or more of the methods orfunctionality as described herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions, parameters, and profiles 124 or receives andexecutes instructions, parameters, and profiles 124 responsive to apropagated signal; so that a device connected to a network 128 cancommunicate voice, video or data over the network 128. Further, theinstructions 124 may be transmitted or received over the network 128 viathe network interface device or wireless adapter 120.

The information handling system 100 can include a set of instructions124 that can be executed to cause the computer system to perform any oneor more of the methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. Forexample, instructions 124 may execute a mesh network link aggregationoptimization system 132, software agents, or other aspects orcomponents. Various software modules comprising application instructions124 may be coordinated by an operating system (OS), and/or via anapplication programming interface (API). An example operating system mayinclude Windows®, Android®, and other OS types known in the art. ExampleAPIs may include WinAPIs (e.g. Win32, Win32s, Win64, and WinCE), CoreJava API, or Android APIs.

The disk drive unit 116 and the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system 132 may include a computer-readable medium 122 inwhich one or more sets of instructions 124 such as software can beembedded. Similarly, main memory 104 and static memory 106 may alsocontain a computer-readable medium for storage of one or more sets ofinstructions, parameters, or profiles 124 including one or moremultiplexer configuration scheme tables and/or one or more data streamconfiguration scheme tables. The disk drive unit 116 and static memory106 also contain space for data storage. Further, the instructions 124may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein. Forexample, instructions relating to the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system and ad-hoc routing algorithms may be stored here. Ina particular embodiment, the instructions, parameters, and profiles 124may reside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory104, the static memory 106, and/or within the disk drive 116 duringexecution by the processor 102 of information handling system 100. Asexplained, some or all of the mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem may be executed locally or remotely. The main memory 104 and theprocessor 102 also may include computer-readable media.

Main memory 104 may contain computer-readable medium (not shown), suchas RAM in an example embodiment. An example of main memory 104 includesrandom access memory (RAM) such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM(DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM), or the like, read only memory (ROM),another type of memory, or a combination thereof. Static memory 106 maycontain computer-readable medium (not shown), such as NOR or NAND flashmemory in some example embodiments. The mesh network link aggregationoptimization system 132 and the drive unit 116 may include acomputer-readable medium 122 such as a magnetic disk in an exampleembodiment. While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a singlemedium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium ormultiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers that store one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include anymedium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set ofinstructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computersystem to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosedherein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to storeinformation received via carrier wave signals such as a signalcommunicated over a transmission medium. Furthermore, a computerreadable medium can store information received from distributed networkresources such as from a cloud-based environment. A digital fileattachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive orset of archives may be considered a distribution medium that isequivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure isconsidered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or adistribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in whichdata or instructions may be stored.

The information handling system 100 may also include a mesh network linkaggregation optimization system 132 that may be operably connected tothe bus 108. In one embodiment, the processor 102 may execute codeinstructions of the mesh network link aggregation optimization system132. In other embodiments, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system 132 in an embodiment may reside outside the BIOS ofthe information handling system 100 and may be executed by theinformation handling system independently from an operating systemdirecting operation of each antenna system. For example, the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system 132 in such an embodimentmay be a microcontroller operably connected to each of the antennasystems 134 to execute instructions of the front end module 126, thuseliminating the dependency on the operating system. The mesh networklink aggregation optimization system 132 computer readable medium 122may also contain space for data storage. The mesh network linkaggregation optimization system 132 may perform tasks related tooptimizing transmission data rates for all links across a mesh networkby aggregating multiple links between any two access points within thenetwork using a layer three link aggregation method in which links areaggregated at the network layer of the open systems interconnection(OSI) model.

In an embodiment, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system132 may communicate with the main memory 104, the processor 102, thevideo display 110, the alpha-numeric input device 112, the GPS locationcircuit 114, and the network interface device 120 via bus 108, andseveral forms of communication may be used, including ACPI, SMBus, a 24MHZ BFSK-coded transmission channel, or shared memory.

In other embodiments, dedicated hardware implementations such asapplication specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more ofthe methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

When referred to as a “system”, a “device,” a “module,” a “controller,”or the like, the embodiments described herein can be configured ashardware. For example, a portion of an information handling systemdevice may be hardware such as, for example, an integrated circuit (suchas an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA), a structured ASIC, or a device embeddedon a larger chip), a card (such as a Peripheral Component Interface(PCI) card, a PCI-express card, a Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA) card, or other such expansion card),or a system (such as a motherboard, a system-on-a-chip (SoC), or astand-alone device). The system, device, controller, or module caninclude software, including firmware embedded at a device, such as anIntel® Core class processor, ARM® brand processors, Qualcomm® Snapdragonprocessors, or other processors and chipsets, or other such device, orsoftware capable of operating a relevant environment of the informationhandling system. The system, device, controller, or module can alsoinclude a combination of the foregoing examples of hardware or software.Note that an information handling system can include an integratedcircuit or a board-level product having portions thereof that can alsobe any combination of hardware and software. Devices, modules,resources, controllers, or programs that are in communication with oneanother need not be in continuous communication with each other, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices, modules, resources,controllers, or programs that are in communication with one another cancommunicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

FIG. 2 illustrates a network 200 that can include one or moreinformation handling systems operating within a mesh wireless networkaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In a particularembodiment, network 200 includes networked mobile information handlingsystems 210, 220, and 230, wireless network access points, informationhandling system 202, and multiple wireless connection link options. Avariety of additional computing resources of network 200 may includeclient mobile information handling systems, data processing servers,network storage devices, local and wide area networks, or otherresources as needed or desired. As specifically depicted, systems 202,210, 220, and 230 may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, 360 degreeconvertible systems, wearable computing devices, or a smart phonedevice. These information handling systems 202, 210, 220, and 230 mayaccess one or more wireless networks. For example, information handlingsystems 202, 210, 220, and 230 may access a wireless local network 250,a macro-cellular network 260, or other network type 270. Other networktypes include additional wireless local networks, additionalmacro-cellular networks, or even additional network types such as LPWANnetworks or others. Wireless links 204, 215, 225, and 235 may beestablished between networked information handling systems 202, 210,220, or 230 and one or more wireless network protocol base stations oraccess points for wireless local network 250, macro-cellular network260, or other network types 270. For example, the wireless local network240 may be the wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless personalarea network (WPAN), or a wireless wide area network (WWAN). In anexample embodiment, LTE-LAA WWAN may operate with a small-cell WWANwireless access point option. Further, a WPAN or Wi-Fi Direct connectionsuch as 206 or 248 may be established among information handling systems202, 210, 220, and 230 in some embodiments. Additional peer-to-peernetworking protocols may be utilized in other embodiments.

Since WPAN or Wi-Fi Direct Connection 248 and WWAN networks canfunctionally operate similar to WLANs, they may be considered aswireless local area networks (WLANs) for purposes herein. Components ofa WLAN may be connected by wireline or Ethernet connections to a widerexternal network. For example, wireless network access points may beconnected to a wireless network controller and an Ethernet switch.Wireless communications across wireless local network 240 may be viastandard protocols such as IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11ad WiGig, IEEE802.15 WPAN, or emerging 5G small cell WWAN communications such aseNodeB, or similar wireless network protocols. Alternatively, otheravailable wireless links within network 200 may include macro-cellularconnections 250 via one or more service providers 260 and 270. Serviceprovider macro-cellular connections may include 2G standards such asGSM, 2.5G standards such as GSM EDGE and GPRS, 3G standards such asW-CDMA/UMTS and CDMA 2000, 4G standards, or emerging 5G standardsincluding WiMAX, LTE, and LTE Advanced, LTE-LAA, small cell WWAN, andthe like.

Wireless local network 240 and macro-cellular network 250 may include avariety of licensed, unlicensed or shared communication frequency bandsas well as a variety of wireless protocol technologies ranging fromthose operating in macrocells, small cells, picocells, or femtocells.

In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, a networkedinformation handling system 202, 210, 220, or 230 may have a pluralitywireless network interface systems capable of transmittingsimultaneously within a shared communication frequency band. Thatcommunication within a shared communication frequency band may besourced from different protocols on parallel wireless network interfacesystems or from a single wireless network interface system capable oftransmitting and receiving from multiple protocols. Similarly, a singleantenna or plural antennas may be used on each of the wirelesscommunication devices. Example competing protocols may be local wirelessnetwork access protocols such as Wi-Fi, WiGig, and small cell WLAN in anunlicensed, shared communication frequency band. Example communicationfrequency bands may include unlicensed 5 GHz frequency bands or 3.5 GHzconditional shared communication frequency bands under FCC Part 96.Wi-Fi ISM frequency bands that could be subject to future sharinginclude 2.4 GHz, 60 GHz, 80 GHz, 900 MHz or similar bands as understoodby those of skill in the art. Within local portion of wireless network250 access points for Wi-Fi or WiGig as well as small cell WWANconnectivity may be available in emerging 5G technology. This may createsituations where a plurality of antenna systems are operating on aninformation handling system 202, 210, 220 or 230 via concurrentcommunication wireless links on both WLAN and WWAN and which may operatewithin the same, adjacent, or otherwise interfering communicationfrequency bands. Such issues may be addressed or mitigated with remediesaccording to the antenna optimization system of the RF front end 126according to embodiments herein.

In an example embodiment, the cloud or remote data center or networkedserver may run hosted applications for systems 202, 210, 220, and 230.For example, remote data center, networked server, or some combinationof both may operate some or all of an antenna optimization systemincluding a storing and providing antenna adjustment policy to models ofinformation handling system 100 as needed or updates of the same asdisclosed in the present disclosure. The cloud or remote data center ornetworked server may run hosted applications for systems 202, 210, 220,and 230 by establishing a virtual machine application executing softwareto manage applications hosted at the remote data center in an exampleembodiment. Information handling systems 202, 210, 220, and 230 areadapted to run one or more applications locally, and to have hostedapplications run in association with the local applications at remotedata center or networked servers. For example, information handlingsystems 202, 210, 220, and 230 may operate some or all of the antennaoptimization system or software applications utilizing the wirelesslinks, including a concurrent wireless links, in some embodiments. Thevirtual machine application may serve one or more applications to eachof information handling systems 202, 210, 220, and 230. Thus, asillustrated, systems 202, 210, 220, and 230 may be running applicationslocally while requesting data objects related to those applications fromthe remote data center via wireless network. In another example, anelectronic mail client application may run locally at system 210. Theelectronic mail client application may be associated with a hostapplication that represents an electronic mail server. In anotherexample, a data storage client application such as Microsoft Sharepointmay run on system 220. It may be associated with a host applicationrunning at a remote data center that represents a Sharepoint datastorage server. In a further example, a web browser application may beoperating at system 230. The web browser application may request webdata from a host application that represents a hosted website andassociated applications running at a remote data center.

Although 204, 215, 225, and 235 are shown connecting wireless adaptersof information handling systems 202, 210, 220, and 230 to wirelessnetworks 250, 260, or 270, wireless communication may link through awireless access point (Wi-Fi or WiGig), through unlicensed WWAN smallcell base stations such as in network 250 or though a service providertower such as that shown in macrocellular network 260 or base stationsor access points of other wireless network types 270. In other aspects,information handling systems 202, 210, 220, and 230 may communicateintra-device via 248 or 206 when one or more of the information handlingsystems 202, 210, 220, and 230 are set to act as access points or evenpotentially an WWAN connection via small cell communication on licensedor unlicensed WWAN connections. For example, one of information handlingsystems 202, 210, 220, and 230 may serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot in anembodiment. Concurrent wireless links to information handling systems202, 210, 220, and 230 may be connected via any access points includingother mobile information handling systems as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a home wireless network usingmulti-RAT technology according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The home wireless network 300 may be a mesh network or ahierarchical network connecting a router 302 with a first informationhandling system 304, a second information handling system 306, and athird information handling system 308. In an embodiment in which thenetwork 300 is a hierarchical network, the router 302 may be a gatewaydevice receiving access to a broader network (e.g. Ethernet) via a wiredconnection to a port outside the home depicted in FIG. 3. In anembodiment in which the network 300 is a mesh network, the router 302may be a gateway device, or may be one of a plurality of nodes or accesspoints (not shown), where each node may be capable of transmitting andreceiving wireless data links. The mesh network in such an embodimentmay be centralized, such that the routes between nodes within the meshnetwork are fixed, and known (in contrast to an ad-hoc network).

The first and second information handling systems 304 and 306 in anembodiment may be, for example, laptop or tablet computing devices,desktop computing devices, smart televisions. The third informationhandling system 308 in an example embodiment may be a virtual reality(VR) or augmented reality (AR) wearable headset. In other embodiments,the first, second, and third information handling systems 304-308 maybe, for example, a mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA)or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a consumerelectronic device, a network server or storage device, a networkconnected device (cellular telephone, tablet device, etc.), IoTcomputing device, wearable computing device, a set-top box (STB), amobile information handling system, a palmtop computer, a controlsystem, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a webappliance.

The router 302 in an embodiment may be capable of multi-RATcommunications. For example, the router 302 may be capable ofcommunications conforming to the IEEE 802.11ad Wi-Gig standard, whichallows for simultaneous transmission on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 60 GHzfrequencies. In other embodiments, the router 302 may be capable ofcommunications conforming to IEEE 802.11 standards more recent than theWi-Gig standard. The router 302 may connect wirelessly to each of thefirst, second, and third information handling systems 304-308 using oneof these three available frequencies. For example, The router 302 in anembodiment may transmit to the first information handling system 304 viaa wireless link 310 at the 2.4 GHz frequency, to the second informationhandling system 306 via a wireless link 312 at the 5 GHz frequency, andto the third information handling system 308 via a wireless link 314 atthe 60 GHz frequency. The router 302 may split the data rate it receivesamong each of the outgoing wireless links. For example, if the router302 receives data at a data rate of 800 Mbps, it may divide this datarate amongst the links 310-314. Thus, the router 302 may be capable oftransmitting on the link 310 at 200 Mbps, on the link 312 at 400 Mbps,and on the link 314 at 200 Mbps, for a combined 800 Mbps.

However, the strength of the wireless signal may degrade betweentransmission from the router 302 and receipt of the signal at one ormore of the first, second, or third information handling systems 304-308in an embodiment. For example, the links 312 and 314 may pass through abathroom area in order to reach the second and third informationhandling systems 306-308. The pipes and water within the walls of thebathroom through which these links 312-314 must pass in order to reachthe second and third information handling systems 306 and 308 in anembodiment may cause significant interference and/or diffraction of thelinks 312-314, such that the signals received at the second and thirdinformation handling systems 306 and 308 are significantly degraded. Asanother example, the distance between the router 302 and the thirdinformation handling system 308 in an embodiment may be too great forefficient receipt of signals transmitted at the 60 GHz frequency, whichhas a smaller range than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bandwidths. In otherwords, the placement of the router 302 in FIG. 3 may cause a spottycoverage area or dead zone within the master bedroom in which the secondand third information handling systems 306 and 308 are placed. Asolution is needed to automatically overcome such an impediment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a link-aggregated home wirelessmesh network using multi-RAT technology according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The wireless mesh network 400 may employ a meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system to overcome the impedimentsdescribed above with respect to FIG. 3. The mesh network linkaggregation optimization system in an embodiment may operate partiallyonboard the router 302, the first information handling system 304, thesecond information handling system 306, and/or the third informationhandling system 308, in order to allow each of the information handlingsystems 304-308 to act as a node within the mesh network 400. Bytransforming the wireless network to a mesh wireless network, and/or bygiving each of the information handling systems 304-308 the capabilityto act as nodes within the wireless mesh network 400, each of the router302 and the information handling systems 304-308 may cooperate in anembodiment with the others to route data to and from one another alongthe most efficient path.

For example, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system in anembodiment may operate to allow the first information handling system304 to operate as a node in the wireless mesh network 400 in order toovercome interference caused by the bathroom plumbing when the router302 transmits directly to the second information handling system 306, orwhen the router 302 transmits directly to the third information handlingsystem 308. By operating the first information handling system 304 as anode in the wireless network 400, a clear line of sight is establishedbetween the second information handling system 306 and the firstinformation handling system 304 acting as a node in the network 400. Insuch an embodiment, the first information handling system 304 may alsotransmit data directly to the third information handling system 308, ormay transmit data to the third information handling system 308 via thesecond information handling system 306. Because the range oftransmissions at the 60 GHz frequency is significantly limited, andbecause the second information handling system 306 is closer to thethird information handling system 308 than the first informationhandling system 304, it may be more efficient to transmit data to thethird information handling system 308 via the second informationhandling system 306. The mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem in such an embodiment may further cause the second informationhandling system 306 to operate as a node in the wireless network 400.

In a traditional multi-RAT mesh network that does not use linkaggregation, transmission of data through more than one node of thewireless mesh network 400 may employ a hopping method. Transmission ofdata between any two nodes of the mesh network may constitute a singlehop. For example, the transmission of data from the router 302 to thefirst information handling system 304 may constitute a first hop, andthe transmission of that data from the first information handling system304 to the second information handling system 306 may constitute asecond hop. As another example, the transmission of data from the router302 to the first information handling system 304 may constitute a firsthop, the transmission of that data from the first information handlingsystem 304 to the second information handling system 306 may constitutea second hop, and the transmission of the data from the secondinformation handling system 306 to the third information handling system308 may constitute a third hop.

The capacity or data rate of each link in a hopping path may decrease asthe number of hops increases. For example, the data rate for each hopmay be limited to a maximum of the inverse of the number of hops.Because the transmission of data between the router 302 and the secondinformation handling system 306 includes two hops, the maximum data ratefor each of those two hops is limited to the maximum data rate therouter 302 is capable of transmitting, divided by the number of hops(e.g. two). In other words, if the router 302 is capable of transmittinga maximum of 400 Mbps for use at the second information handling system306, and a two-hop method is used, the data rate actually received atthe second information handling system 306 would be 200 Mbps. Similarly,if the router 302 is capable of transmitting a maximum of 200 Mbps foruse at the third information handling system 308, and a three-hop methodis used to deliver that data, the data rate actually received at thethird information handling system 308 would be 66.67 Mbps. Depending onthe degree of interference caused by the bathroom plumbing, thesereceived data rates may actually be lower than the data rate of signalsreceived directly from the router 302 (as described above with referenceto FIG. 3), even though those signals are undergoing considerableinterference.

In order to overcome the degradation of data rate caused by multiplehops in a mesh network, the mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem in an embodiment may aggregate one or more links at the networklayer at one or more nodes of the wireless mesh network 400. Layer-threelink aggregation operates to remove the decrease in data rate associatedwith multiple hops through a wireless mesh network. For example, themesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodiment mayaggregate the data routed for delivery at the first information handlingsystem 304 and the third information handling system 308 into a singlelink. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3,the data routed to the first information handling system 304 may betransmitted via the first wireless link 310 at a data rate of 200 Mbps,and the data routed to the third information handling system may betransmitted via the third wireless link 314 at a data rate of 200 Mbps.However, as described above, the router 302 may not be capable oftransmitting directly to the third information handling system 308 atthe 60 GHz frequency because of the distance between the devices.

In an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4, the wireless meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system may connect the router 302and the first information handling system 304 via layer-three aggregatedlinks 402 and 404. Links 402 and 404 may both be transmitted on the 5GHz band, and may each have a data rate of 400 Mbps. Thus, the firstinformation handling system 304 in such an embodiment may receive dataat a combined data rate of 800 Mbps. The first information handlingsystem 304 in such an embodiment may then transmit data to the secondinformation handling system 306 via link 406 on the 5 GHz band at a datarate of 800 Mbps. The second information handling system 306 in such anembodiment may then transmit data to the third information handlingsystem 308 via link 408 on the 60 GHz band at a data rate of 800 Mbps.By aggregating links at the second information handling system 306, thesecond information handling system 306 may be capable of transmitting atthe full 800 Mbps data rate received on the link 406 for transmission tothe third information handling system 308, as if transmission from thefirst information handling system 304 to the second information handlingsystem 306 did not constitute a hop in a delivery method. In such a way,the mesh network link aggregation optimization method in an embodimentmay increase the data rate of links experiencing high congestion (e.g.low data rates) by aggregating such links with one or more other linksat the third layer of the OSI model.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a shared radio configuration fora small office wireless network using layer three link aggregationtechnology according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thesmall office wireless network 500 may be a mesh network connecting arouter 502 with one or more information handling systems within thenetwork 500. The network 500 in an embodiment may include a firstinformation handling system 504, a second information handling system506, a third information handling system 508, a fourth informationhandling system 510, and a fifth information handling system 512. Therouter 502 in an embodiment may be a multi-RAT gateway device, or may bean edge node or access point of a larger mesh network (not shown), whereeach node in the larger network may be capable of transmitting andreceiving wireless data links. The mesh network 500 may be capable offunctioning in an ad-hoc architecture. Further, the router 502 and eachof the first through fifth information handling systems 504-512 in anembodiment may have up to four separate radios. In some embodiments,each of the radios may be capable of being dedicated to transmitting at2.4 GHz, receiving at 2.4 GHz, transmitting at 5 GHz, receiving at 5GHz, transmitting at 60 GHz, or receiving at 60 GHz. Other operatingfrequency bands are also contemplated which may be relevant to the meshnetwork operation. In other words, the maximum number of signals bothreceived and transmitted from each of the router 502 and the firstthrough fifth information handling system 504-512 may not exceed four inexample embodiments. In other embodiments, the number of radios at eachaccess point such as a router 502 or information handling systems504-512 in the wireless network 500 may be a number other than fourincluding greater than four, and the number of radios at each accesspoint may vary from access point to access point or by informationhandling system.

In an example embodiment in which each radio includes a maximum of fourradios, the router 502 may transmit two signals, including a link 514,and a link 516. The router 502 in such an embodiment may transmit boththe links 514 and 516 to the first information handling system 504. Thelink 514 in an embodiment may be transmitted in the 5 GHz band, and mayhave a maximum data rate of 800 Mbps. The link 516 in an embodiment maybe transmitted in the 2.4 GHz band, and may have a maximum data rate of600 Mbps. In such a way, the first information handling system 504 mayreceive a total maximum of 1400 Mbps. The router 502 in such aconfiguration may utilize only two of four available radios.

The first information handling system 504 in an embodiment may transmitthree links via two radios. For example, the first information handlingsystem 504 may transmit data to the second information handling system506 via the link 518 on the 5 GHz band at a maximum data rate of 800Mbps. Because the first information handling system 504 has used threeof its four available radios to receive the links 514 and 516, andtransmit the link 518, it only has one radio left available for furthertransmission. As such, the first information handling system maytransmit both the link 520 and the link 522 via the fourth radio, andsplit the data rate the fourth radio is capable of transmitting betweenthe links 520 and 522. Thus, the first information handling system 504may transmit the link 520 to the second information handling system 506on the 2.4 GHz band at a maximum data rate of 300 Mbps, and may transmitthe link 522 to the third information handling system 508 on the 2.4 GHzband at a maximum data rate of 300 Mbps. In such a way, the secondinformation handling system 506 may receive a maximum of 1100 Mbps, andthe third information handling system 508 may receive a maximum of 300Mbps. The assignment of two links to a single radio in an embodiment maybe referred to herein as a shared radio. The use of a shared radioacross two different links may cause a congestion score for each link todecrease, indicating higher congestion on each link.

The second information handling system 506 in an embodiment may thentransmit data to the fourth and fifth information handling systems 512in a hopping mode. For example, the second information handling system506 may transmit data to the fourth information handling system 510 viathe link 524, and the fourth information handling system 512 maytransmit data to the fifth information handling system 512 via the link526. Because a hopping mode is used to transmit data from the fourth 510to the fifth information handling system 512, the data rates for each oflink 524 and link 526 may be equivalent, at maximum, to half the datarate received at the second information handling system 506. Thus, thesecond information handling system 506 may transmit data to the fourthinformation handling system 510 via the link 524 on the 60 GHz band at amaximum data rate of 550 Mbps, and the fourth information handlingsystem 510 may transmit data to the fifth information handling system512 via the link 526 on the 60 GHz band at a maximum data rate of 550Mbps. One or more links in such an embodiment may undergo interferenceor traffic bottlenecks that result in transmission of data at data ratessignificantly lower than the maximum data rate.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating multiple upstream linkaggregations for a small office wireless network using layer three linkaggregation technology according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 6 depicts the wireless network 500 described above withreference to FIG. 5 placed in a configuration employing layer three linkaggregation rather than shared radios at the first information handlingsystem 504. For example, the first information handling system 504 insuch an embodiment may receive data from the router 502 via the links514 and 516, but may not transmit data directly to the third informationhandling system 508. In other words, the first information handlingsystem 504 in such an embodiment may not need to share the 2.4 GHztransmitting radio among two separate nodes, as depicted in FIG. 5 (e.g.splitting the data rate between the links 520 and 522). Thus, the firstinformation handling system 504 depicted in FIG. 6 may transmit data tothe second information handling system 506 via a link 602 on the 2.4 GHzband at a maximum data rate of 600 Mbps. The second information handlingsystem 506 in such an embodiment may then receive data a total maximumdata rate of 1400 Mbps (800 Mbps at 5 GHz on the link 518 plus 600 Mbpsat 2.4 GHz on the link 602), rather than at a maximum of 1100 Mbps as inthe configuration employing radio sharing.

As described above, in the data sharing configuration of FIG. 5 therouter 502 only employs two of its four available radios. In FIG. 6, oneor both of the two remaining radios may be employed to transmit data tothe third information handling system 508. In one example embodiment,the router 502 may establish only link 604 on the 2.4 GHz band totransmit and receive data to and from the third information handlingsystem 508. In such an embodiment, the link 604 may be capable oftransmitting via a maximum bandwidth of 600 Mbps, which may besignificantly higher than the 300 Mbps maximum data rate achievable bythe network configuration of FIG. 5. In another example embodiment, therouter 502 may establish both aggregated links 604 and 606. The link 604and the link 606 may be transmitted on the 2.4 GHz band, and using alayer three link aggregation method, the data rate of both of thesestreams may be combined in order to receive data at a higher totalmaximum data rate at the third information handling system 508 thanwould be received using only one link at the 2.4 GHz band. For example,if the link 604 and the link 606 encountered little or no interference,such that they achieved the highest theoretical data rates for the 2.4GHz band, both the link 604 and the link 606 may have a data rate of 600Mbps. Thus, the third information handling system 508 in such anembodiment may receive a total maximum of 1200 Mbps. As another example,in an embodiment in which the link 604 and the link 606 encountered alarge degree of interference (e.g. from a nearby network using the same2.4 GHz band), the link 604 and link 606 may only realistically achievea data rate of 100 Mbps, far below the maximum theoretical data rate. Insuch an embodiment, the third information handling system 508 mayreceive a total of 200 Mbps. Further, in such an embodiment, the link604 and link 606 may be associated with a high congestion score as aresult of the interference experienced.

In an embodiment in which the second information handling system 506transmits data to the fourth and fifth information handling systems 510and 512 in a hopping mode, the second information handling system 506may transmit data to the fourth information handling system 510 via thelink 608, and the fourth information handling system 512 may transmitdata to the fifth information handling system 512 via the link 610.Because a hopping mode is used to transmit data from the fourth 510 tothe fifth information handling system 512, the data rates for each oflinks 608 and 610 may be equivalent, at maximum, to half the data ratereceived at the second information handling system 506. Thus, the secondinformation handling system 506 may transmit data to the fourthinformation handling system 510 via the link 608 on the 60 GHz band at amaximum data rate of 700 Mbps, and the fourth information handlingsystem 510 may transmit data to the fifth information handling system512 via the link 610 on the 60 GHz band at a maximum data rate of 700Mbps.

In a first embodiment in which the link 604 and the link 606 encounterlittle or no interference and are associated with a high congestionscore (indicating little or no congestion), the third informationhandling system 508 may receive a total maximum of 1200 Mbps, and thefifth information handling system 512 may receive a total maximum of 700Mbps. In a second embodiment in which the link 604 and the link 606encounter a large degree of interference and are associated with a lowcongestion score, the third information handling system 508 may onlyreceive a total of 200 Mbps, while the fifth information handling system512 receives a total of 700 Mbps. Thus, the choice of whether to employa layer-three link aggregation configuration at a particular node withina network may depend upon the resulting congestion score.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating multiple downstream linkaggregations for a small office wireless network using layer three linkaggregation technology according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 7 depicts the wireless network 500 described above withreference to FIGS. 5 and 6, placed in a configuration employing layerthree link aggregation rather than shared radios at the firstinformation handling system 504, as depicted in FIG. 5. Theconfiguration depicted in FIG. 7 further employs link aggregation bothupstream and downstream from the first information handling system 504.

For example, the router 502 may transmit data to the first informationhandling system 504 via layer three aggregated links 702 and 704 on the5 GHz band at a maximum data rate of 800 Mbps per link. In such a way,the first information handling system 504 may receive data at a maximumdata rate of 1600 Mbps. The router 502 may also transmit data to thethird information handling system 508 via link 708 in the 60 GHz band ata maximum data rate of 1 Gbps.

The second information handling system 506 in an embodiment may receivedata from the first information handling system 504 via layer threeaggregated links 518 and 704, both transmitting in the 5 GHz band. Themaximum data rate of aggregated links 518 and 704 in such an embodimentmay each be 800 Mbps, such that the second information handling system506 receives data at a maximum data rate of 1600 Mbps.

The second information handling system 506 in such an embodiment may usea layer-three link aggregation method to transmit data to the fourthinformation handling system 510 via both links 708 and 710. For example,the second information handling system 506 in an embodiment may transmitdata to the fourth information handling system 510 via link 708 on the 5GHz band at a data rate of 800 Mbps and via link 710, also on the 5 GHzband at a data rate of 800 Mbps, such that the fourth informationhandling system 510 receives data at a combined data rate of 1600 Mbps.

As described herein, the use of layer-three link aggregation alleviatesthe decrease in data rates for each link in a chain associated withhops. As such, the fourth information handling system 510 may transmitdata at the same data rate as it receives data. As a consequence, thefourth information handling system 510 in an embodiment may transmitdata via link 712 on the 60 GHz band at a rate of 1 Gbps, which is themaximum allowable data rate for the 60 GHz frequency, according to theIEEE 802.11ad standard. Thus, by aggregating links between the secondand fourth information handling systems 506 and 510 in an embodiment,the mesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodimentmay increase the data rate for transmissions received at the fifthinformation handling system 512 from 550 Mbps achieved by theconfiguration of FIG. 5 or from 700 Mbps achieved by the configurationof FIG. 6 to 1 Gbps.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for configuring optimallink aggregation and routing across a mesh network based on congestionscores across the network according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The mesh network configured according to the method of FIG.8 may be an ad-hoc mesh network capable of executing a routing algorithmto dynamically optimize routes between multiple access points in themesh network. At block 802, data may be received at an access pointwithin an ad-hoc mesh network for transmission to a client device alsowithin the ad-hoc mesh network. For example, in an embodiment describedwith reference to FIG. 4, data may be received at the router 302 withinthe ad-hoc mesh network 400 for transmission to one or more of thefirst, second, or third information handling systems 304-308. As anotherexample, in embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, datamay be received at the router 502 within the ad-hoc mesh network 500 fortransmission to one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, orfifth information handling systems 504-512.

The mesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodimentmay determine at block 804 whether any information handling systemswithin the network are capable of executing code instructions of themesh network link aggregation optimization system. For example, in anembodiment described with reference to FIG. 4, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system may determine that the first, second,and third information handling systems 304-308 within the network 400are capable of executing code instructions of the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system, such that each of systems 304-308 mayoperate as access points within the network rather than as endpointclient devices. As another example, in embodiments described withreference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system may determine that the first, second, third, fourth,and fifth information handling systems 504-512 within the network 500are capable of executing code instructions of the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system, such that each of systems 304-308 mayoperate as access points within the network rather than as endpointclient devices.

The mesh network link aggregation optimization system may determinewhether any information handling systems within the network are capableof executing code instructions of the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system by, for example, transmitting a broadcast requestfrom the router 502 for such information to all information handlingsystems and/or nodes within the mesh network. Information handlingsystems operating mesh network link aggregation optimization systems inan embodiment may respond to such a received broadcast request bytransmitting a response back to the router 502 identifying itself by itsMAC address (layer two identification) or by its current IP address(layer three identification). In an embodiment in which the mesh networklink aggregation optimization system determines one or more informationhandling systems within the network are capable of executing codeinstructions of the mesh network link aggregation optimization system,the method may proceed to block 806.

In contrast, in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3, themesh network link aggregation optimization system may determine that thefirst, second, and third information handling systems 304-308 within thenetwork 300 are not capable of executing code instructions of the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system, forcing each of systems304-308 to receive data via a link directly between that system and therouter 302. In such an embodiment in which the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system determines none of the informationhandling systems within the network are capable of executing codeinstructions of the mesh network link aggregation optimization system,the method may proceed to block 814.

At block 806, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system inan embodiment may direct the information handling systems identified atblock 804 to operate as access points within the network. For example,in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4, by transforming thewireless network to a mesh wireless network, and/or by giving each ofthe information handling systems 304-308 the capability to act as nodeswithin the wireless mesh network 400, each of the router 302 and theinformation handling systems 304-308 may cooperate in an embodiment withthe others to route data to and from one another along the mostefficient path.

For example, by operating the first information handling system 304 as anode in the wireless network 400, a clear line of sight is establishedbetween the second information handling system 306 and the firstinformation handling system 304 acting as a node in the network 400 suchthat interference caused by the bathroom plumbing can be overcome. Asanother example, operating the first and second information handlingsystems 304 and 306 as nodes in the wireless network 400 in anembodiment may overcome the problems associated with transmitting a linkin the 60 Ghz band across the lengthy distance between the router 302and the third information handling system 308.

The mesh network link aggregation optimization system may perform therouting algorithm for ad-hoc network in an embodiment at block 808 todetermine the optimal link configuration among all access points withinthe network. For example, in an embodiment described with reference toFIG. 4, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system mayperform the routing algorithm to determine the optimal linkconfiguration among the router 302, and the first, second, and thirdinformation handling systems 304-308 that results in the most efficienttransmission of data between each of those access points. The meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system in an embodiment may employa known routing algorithm for ad-hoc networks, such as an optimized linkstate routing algorithm. In other embodiments, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system may employ a distance vector algorithm,a path vector protocol, or a link state routing algorithm. Still otherembodiments may involve the use of dynamic routing protocols such asrouting information protocol, open shortest path first, and enhancedinterior gateway routing protocol. The routing protocol used in anembodiment may operate to identify and “heal” broken links or to routearound bottlenecks or high-interference obstacles.

At block 810, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system inan embodiment may perform a link aggregation optimization method tofurther optimize link configurations among the access points and clientdevices within an ad-hoc network that has undergone the routingoptimization of block 808. In a traditional multi-RAT mesh network thatdoes not use link aggregation, transmission of data through more thanone node of the wireless mesh network 400 may employ a hopping method,causing the data rate of each link in a hopping path to decrease. Inorder to overcome the degradation of data rate caused by multiple hopsin a mesh network, the mesh network link aggregation optimization systemin an embodiment may aggregate one or more links at the network layer atone or more nodes of the wireless mesh network 400. Layer-three linkaggregation operates to remove the decrease in data rate associated withmultiple hops through a wireless mesh network. Identification of one ormore access points within the network at which application of linkaggregation may increase the efficiency of communications across thenetwork is described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 9.

The mesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodimentmay reset an optimization timer at block 812. The mesh network linkaggregation optimization system in an embodiment may attempt toadaptively and dynamically optimize the links among the access points ina network at regular intervals in order to address constantly changingtraffic, operational, and interference issues across the network. Forexample, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system in anembodiment may perform the routing algorithm and/or the link aggregationoptimization method at regular intervals in order to identify the mostefficient paths between access points in the network and to furtheroptimize those paths in some cases by aggregating multiple links at oneor more access points. In an example embodiment, the optimization timermay be five minutes, however it will be understood that any optimizationtimer period may be used in various embodiments. The method may thenend.

In an embodiment in which the mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem determines no information handling systems within the network arecapable of executing link aggregation optimization methods, the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system in an embodiment maydetermine whether any information handling systems previously operatingas access points within the network have left the network. For example,in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3, if the mesh networklink aggregation optimization system determines none of the informationhandling systems within the network (e.g. 304-308) can executeinstructions of the mesh network link aggregation optimization system,it may determine whether any information handling systems previouslyexecuting such instructions have left the network 300. When such aninformation handling system leaves a network 300, it may effectivelyremove one of the access points of the network 300, consequently leavingbehind broken links. If this occurs, the network 300 may need to bereconfigured to account for such broken links. If the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system in an embodiment determines aninformation handling systems previously operating as an access pointwithin the network has left the network, the method may proceed directlyto block 808 for performance of the routing algorithm to overcome thebroken links. If the mesh network link aggregation optimization systemin an embodiment determines no information handling systems previouslyoperating as access points within the network have left the network, themethod may proceed to block 816.

At block 816, the preset optimization timer may elapse. As describedherein, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system in anembodiment may attempt to adaptively and dynamically optimize the linksamong the access points in a network at regular intervals in order toidentify the most efficient paths between access points in the networkand to further optimize those paths in some cases by aggregatingmultiple links at one or more access points. Changes in the number andidentity of access points in the network poses one clear opportunity forreconfiguration of the network. However, changes to the traffic andefficiency of the network may occur even if the number, orientation, oridentity of access points within the network remains the same. Thus, ifthe mesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodimentdetermines at block 804 that there are no information handling systemswithin the network that may be set to operate as access points, anddecides at block 814 that no information handling systems previouslyoperating as access points within the network have since left, the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system may still routinely performthe routing algorithm and link aggregation method of blocks 808 and 810.Thus, at block 816, when the preset optimization timer elapses, the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system in an embodiment mayperform the routing algorithm at block 808, perform the link aggregationoptimization method at block 810, and reset the optimization timer atblock 812. The method may then end.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a method for determining one ormore nodes at which link aggregation may be optimally performed based oncongestion scores across the network according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem in an embodiment may perform a link aggregation optimizationmethod following performance of the ad-hoc routing algorithm to furtheroptimize link configurations among the access points and client devices,as illustrated by the method of FIG. 9.

At block 902, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system inan embodiment may determine a congestion score for each link in anad-hoc mesh network. A congestion score may be based on traffic,interference, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), or Quality ofService (QoS) measurements at each node or access point of the networkin an embodiment. Links between nodes experiencing satisfactory RSSIand/or QoS measurements may be associated with higher congestion scores,and links between nodes experiencing unsatisfactory RSSI and/or QoSmeasurements may be associated with lower congestion scores. Forexample, a congestion score may have a value from zero to ten, with tenindicating little to no congestion, and zero indicating full congestionindicative of a broken link. Several methods for determining acongestion score are known in the art, and any such method may be usedat block 902.

The mesh network link aggregation optimization system may determine atblock 904 whether any links between a non-gateway upstream node and anode directly downstream from such a non-gateway upstream node may havebeen identified as congested. A link may be congested in an embodimentif it does not meet a preset congestion threshold. For example, a linkmay be congested if the congestion score falls below five. In anotherexample embodiment, a link may be congested if the congestion scorefalls below eight.

A non-gateway node in an embodiment may be a node other than a gatewayor main router, and a gateway node may be a node in a mesh network thatis in communication with each of the other nodes in the network. Theterm upstream may refer to a gateway node or a node connected to thegateway or main router using fewer links than another node, which may besaid to be downstream from such upstream node. For example, in anembodiment described with reference to FIG. 5, the router 502 may be agateway node, and the first information handling system 504 may beupstream from the second information handling system 506. Further, insuch an embodiment, the third, fourth, and fifth information handlingsystems 506-512 may be said to be downstream of the first informationhandling system. However, only the second and third information handlingsystems 506 and 508 are immediately or directly downstream from thefirst information handling system 504.

In an example embodiment, the mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem may determine at block 904 that link 518 has a congestion scorebelow the preset congestion threshold. In another example embodiment,the mesh network link aggregation optimization system may determine atblock 904 that link 520 has a congestion score below the presetcongestion threshold. In both of these example embodiments, the firstinformation handling system 504 would be the upstream node, and thesecond information handling system 506 would be the downstream node. Inanother embodiment, the mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem described in an embodiment with respect to FIG. 6 may determineat block 904 that one or more of links 608, 516, or 602 has a congestionscore below the preset congestion threshold. In yet another embodiment,the mesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodimentdescribed with reference to FIG. 7 may determine at block 904 that link706 has a congestion score below the preset congestion threshold. If themesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodimentdetermines none of the links within the network are congested, linkaggregation may not be necessary, and the method may then end. If themesh network link aggregation optimization system in an embodimentidentifies a link between an upstream and downstream node as congestedwith a score below an acceptable threshold congestion score level, themethod may proceed to block 906 in order to determine one or morelocations within the network where links may be aggregated at thenetwork level in order to increase effectiveness of communicationthroughout the network.

At block 906, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system maydetermine whether the upstream node identified at block 904 is radiosharing between two or more downstream nodes. In order to determinewhich links could benefit from link aggregation in an embodiment, themesh network link aggregation optimization system may determine theavailability of radios that could be used for such a method at eachnode, and whether to aggregate links upstream from or bundled togetherwith a congested link. If a node is already using a radio sharingmethod, this may indicate all radios are currently in use at such a nodesuch that link aggregation may not be employed at that node in itscurrent configuration. For example, in an embodiment described withreference to FIG. 5 in which link 520 has been identified at block 904as a congested link, radio usage at the first information handlingsystem 504 may be analyzed at block 906. The mesh network linkaggregation optimization system in such an embodiment may determine atblock 906 that the first information handling system 504 is currentlyusing a radio sharing method between the second information handlingsystem 506 and the third information handling system 508. In otherwords, the first information handling system 504 may be transmitting tothe second information handling system 506 via link 520 on the 2.4 GHzband at a maximum data rate of 300 Mbps, while also transmitting to thethird information handling system 508 via link 522 at a maximum datarate of 300 Mbps, also on the 2.4 GHz band.

As described herein, sharing the radio of the first information handlingsystem 504 for transmission in the 2.4 GHz band between the links 520and 522 decreases the data rate for each of links 520 and 522 by half.As such, radio sharing between two downstream nodes (e.g. the second andthird information handling systems 506 and 508) is usually only donewhen the upstream node (e.g. the first information handling system 504)does not have any other free radio for transmission of either link 520or link 522 on a band other than the 2.4 GHz band. For example, thefirst information handling system 504 in an embodiment may have one offour radios dedicated to receiving on the 2.4 GHz band, one of fourradios dedicated to receiving on the 5 GHz band, and one of four radiosdedicated to transmitting on the 5 GHz band. As such, the firstinformation handling system may have only one radio available fortransmission on both links 520 and 522 on the 2.4 GHz band.

Further, if the upstream node in the congested link is radio sharingwith two or more downstream links, the use of the radio sharing methodat the upstream link could be the direct cause of the congestion on thecongested link. For example, congestion may be caused by a low data rateon a link. If the first information handling system 504 in an embodimentis forced to use radio sharing to transmit both links 520 and 522 on the2.4 GHz bandwidth, it may decrease the data rate of each of links 520and 522 by half (e.g. to 300 Mbps, rather than the 600 Mbps received atthe first information handling system 504 on link 516), thus causingcongestion scores for each of links 520 and 522 to drop below the presetcongestion threshold. In an embodiment in which the upstream node isradio sharing between two or more downstream nodes, the method mayproceed to block 908. If the upstream node is not radio sharing betweentwo or more downstream nodes, the method may proceed to block 910 inorder to determine what else could be causing the detected congestion.

In an embodiment in which the upstream node of the congested link is notradio sharing between two or more nodes directly downstream, the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system in an embodiment mayaggregate links upstream of the upstream node and stop any radio sharingat the upstream node at block 908. As described herein, if the nodedirectly upstream of the congested link is radio sharing between two ormore nodes directly downstream, the radio sharing may be causing thecongestion detected. As such, at block 908, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system in such an embodiment may cease radiosharing at the upstream node and aggregate links upstream of thenon-gateway upstream node. For example, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system in an embodiment described withreference to FIG. 5 may stop radio sharing between links 520 and 522 bysevering or ceasing to transmit data via links 520 and 522. Doing so mayfree one of the four radios at the first information handling system504, and the first information handling system 504 may establish a newlink 602 with the second information handling system 506 on the 2.4 GHzband at a maximum data rate of 600 Mbps. In such a way, the secondinformation handling system 506 may receive a total maximum data rate of1400 Mbps rather than the 1100 Mbps achieved by the networkconfiguration of FIG. 5. However, severing the link between the firstinformation handling system 504 and the third information handlingsystem 508 may require another node in the network to form a link withthe third information handling system 508 such that it may rejoin thenetwork 500.

Thus, the router 502 in an embodiment may establish one or more linkswith the third information handling system 508. For example, in anembodiment described with reference to FIG. 6, the router 502 mayestablish links 604 and 606 in order to transmit and receive data to andfrom the third information handling system 508 on the 2.4 GHz band at amaximum data rate of 600 Mbps each. The router 502 may do so using alayer three link aggregation method as described herein, allowing thethird information handling system to receive data at a maximum data rateof 1200 Mbps, rather than the 300 Mbps achieved by the configuration ofFIG. 5. In such a way, the mesh network link aggregation optimizationsystem in an embodiment may use link aggregation upstream of thenon-gateway upstream node (e.g. link aggregation between the router 502and the third information handling system 508) to cure a congested link(e.g. link 520). The method may then return to block 902 to determinecongestion scores for each link in the reconfigured network in order todetermine if further link aggregation is needed at other nodes.

At block 910, in an embodiment in which the upstream node is not radiosharing, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system in anembodiment may determine whether the upstream node is using allavailable radios. If neither of the nodes upstream and downstream of thecongested link are using all available radios, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system in an embodiment may use one radio ofeach of those nodes to create aggregate links between the upstream anddownstream node. However, such an approach may only be available if eachof the upstream and downstream nodes has an available radio.

If the node directly upstream of the congested link is not using allavailable radios, the method may proceed to block 912. For example, inan embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6 in which link 608 isidentified as a congested link, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system may determine at block 910 that the upstream secondinformation handling system 506 is not using all available radios andthe method may proceed to block 912. As another example, in anembodiment described with reference to FIG. 6 in which link 516 isidentified as a congested link and the router 502 communicates with thethird information handling system 508 via only link 604, the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system may determine at block 910that the upstream router 502 is not using all available radios and themethod may proceed to block 912. As yet another example, in anembodiment described with reference to FIG. 7 in which link 706 isidentified as a congested link, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system may determine at block 910 that the upstream router502 is not using all available radios and the method may proceed toblock 912.

If the node directly upstream of the congested link is using allavailable radios, the method may proceed to block 916 in order todetermine an alternative strategy for decreasing congestion. Forexample, in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6 in whichlink 602 is identified as a congested link, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system may determine at block 910 that theupstream first information handling system 504 is using all availableradios, and the method may proceed to block 916.

In an embodiment in which the non-gateway upstream node is not using allavailable radios, the mesh network link aggregation optimization systemin an embodiment may determine at block 912 whether the node directlydownstream of the non-gateway upstream node is using all availableradios. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6in which link 608 is identified as a congested link, the mesh networklink aggregation optimization system may determine at block 912 that thedownstream fourth information handling system 510 is not using allavailable radios and the method may proceed to block 914. As anotherexample, in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7 in whichlink 706 is identified as a congested link, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system may determine at block 912 that thedownstream third information handling system 508 is not using allavailable radios and the method may proceed to block 914. In contrast,in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6 in which link 516 isidentified as a congested link, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system may determine at block 912 that the downstream firstinformation handling system 504 is using all available radios and themethod may proceed to block 916.

At block 914, in an embodiment in which the upstream node is not radiosharing, and neither the upstream or downstream nodes are currentlyusing all available radios, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system may aggregate links between upstream node anddownstream node. For example, in an embodiment described with referenceto FIG. 6 in which link 608, which is capable of a maximum data rate of700 Mbps, is identified as a congested link, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system may aggregate links between the secondinformation handling system 506 and the fourth information handlingsystem 510. In an example embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7,the mesh network link aggregation optimization system may establishlayer three aggregated links 708 and 710 in the 5 GHz band at block 914in response. Each of link 708 and link 710 in such an embodiment may becapable of transmitting at a maximum data rate of 800 Mbps, which mayimprove the data rate between the second information handling system 506and the fourth information handling system 510. Further, because layerthree link aggregation is used in such a way, link 712 between thefourth information handling system 510 and the fifth informationhandling system 512 may not suffer the deleterious effects of a hoppingmethod on its data rate. In other words, the fourth information handlingsystem 510 may be capable of transmitting to the fifth informationhandling system 512 on link 712 at the maximum data rate of 1 Gbpsallowable on the 60 GHz band. The improvement from 700 Mbps to 800 Mbpsdata rate for communications between the second and fourth informationhandling systems 506 and 510, and/or the improvement from 700 Mbps to 1Gbps between the fourth and fifth information handling systems 510 and512 may cause the congestion scores for those links to increaseconsiderably. The method may then return to block 902 to determinecongestion scores for each link in the reconfigured network in order todetermine if further link aggregation is needed at other nodes.

In another example, in an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7in which link 706, which is capable of a maximum data rate of 1 Gbps, isidentified as a congested link, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system aggregate links between the router 502 and the thirdinformation handling system 508. For example, if the link 706 istransmitted over a distance longer than the effective range fortransmissions in the 60 GHz band, or if link 706 undergoes interferencefrom a nearby 60 GHz band transmitting within another network, theactual data rate achieved by link 706 may be only 100 Mbps. In such anembodiment, the mesh network link aggregation optimization system mayaggregate links between the router 502 and the third informationhandling system 508 in another band. For example, in an embodimentdescribed with reference to FIG. 6, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system may establish layer three aggregated links 604 and606 on the 2.4 GHz band between the router 502 and the third informationhandling system 508. Each of links 604 and 606 in such an embodiment maybe capable of a maximum data rate of 600 Mbps, such that the thirdinformation handling system 508 may receive a maximum data rate of 1200Mbps, which may be a significant increase from the 100 Mbps received vialink 706. The method may then return to block 902 to determinecongestion scores for each link in the reconfigured network in order todetermine if further link aggregation is needed at other nodes.

In an embodiment in which the upstream node is not radio sharing, theupstream node is currently not using all available radios, but thedownstream node is currently using all available radios such asdetermined at 912, the mesh network link aggregation optimization systemmay sever the congested link and aggregate links in a non-congested bandbetween the upstream and downstream nodes at block 916. For example, inan embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6 in which link 516 isidentified as a congested link in the 2.4 GHz band, the mesh networklink aggregation optimization system may sever link 516 and aggregatetwo links in the 5 GHz band between the router 502 and the firstinformation handling system 504. Link 516 in an embodiment may beidentified as congested if, for example, it undergoes interference froma nearby link in the same 2.4 GHz band from another network, causing thedata rate of link 516 to drop significantly below the 600 Mbps maximumdata rate. In an example embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7,the mesh network link aggregation optimization system may sever link516, establish link 702 in the 5 GHz band in its stead, and aggregatelinks 514 and 702. By switching from the 2.4 GHz band to the 5 GHz band,the mesh network link aggregation optimization system may effectivelyavoid deleterious effects or interference from nearby networkstransmitting in the 2.4 GHz band. Further, link 702 may have a maximumdata rate of 800 Mbps, such that the first information handling system504 may receive a maximum data rate of 1600 Mbps, rather than the actualdata rate falling below 1400 Mbps achievable by the configuration of thenetwork 500 shown in FIG. 6. The method may then return to block 902 todetermine congestion scores for each link in the reconfigured network inorder to determine if further link aggregation is needed at other nodes.

In an embodiment in which the upstream node is not radio sharing, andthe upstream node is using all available radios as determined at 910,the mesh network link aggregation optimization system may sever thecongested link and aggregate links in a non-congested band between theupstream and downstream nodes at block 916. For example, in anembodiment described with reference to FIG. 6 in which link 602 isidentified as a congested link, the mesh network link aggregationoptimization system may sever link 602 operating in the 2.4 GHz band andmay aggregate links in the 5 GHz band between the first informationhandling system 504 and the second information handling system 506. Link602 in an embodiment may be experiencing interference from a nearby linkin the same 2.4 GHz band from another network, causing the data rate todrop significantly below the 600 Mbps maximum data rate. In an exampleembodiment described with reference to FIG. 7, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system may sever link 602, establish link 704in the 5 GHz band in its stead, and aggregate links 518 and 704. Byswitching from the 2.4 GHz band to the 5 GHz band, the mesh network linkaggregation optimization system may effectively avoid deleteriouseffects or interference from nearby networks transmitting in the 2.4 GHzband. Further, link 704 may have a maximum data rate of 800 Mbps, suchthat the second information handling system 506 may receive a maximumdata rate of 1600 Mbps, rather than the actual data rate falling below1400 Mbps achievable by the configuration of the network 500 shown inFIG. 6. The method may then return to block 902 to determine congestionscores for each link in the reconfigured network in order to determineif further link aggregation is needed at other nodes.

The loop from block 902 to blocks 914 or 916 may be repeated in anembodiment until the mesh network link aggregation optimization systemdetermines at block 904 that none of the links within the networkqualify as congested. The method may then end. In some embodiments, thead-hoc routing algorithm may be performed each time the method of FIG. 9proceeds from either block 914 to block 902 or from block 916 to block902.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

When referred to as a “device,” a “module,” or the like, the embodimentsdescribed herein can be configured as hardware. For example, a portionof an information handling system device may be hardware such as, forexample, an integrated circuit (such as an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), astructured ASIC, or a device embedded on a larger chip), a card (such asa Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) card, a PCI-express card, aPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card,or other such expansion card), or a system (such as a motherboard, asystem-on-a-chip (SoC), or a stand-alone device). The device or modulecan include software, including firmware embedded at a device, such asan Intel® Core™ or ARM® RISC brand processors, or other such device, orsoftware capable of operating a relevant environment of the informationhandling system. The device or module can also include a combination ofthe foregoing examples of hardware or software. Note that an informationhandling system can include an integrated circuit or a board-levelproduct having portions thereof that can also be any combination ofhardware and software.

Devices, modules, resources, or programs that are in communication withone another need not be in continuous communication with each other,unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices, modules,resources, or programs that are in communication with one another cancommunicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailherein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modificationsare possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departingfrom the novel teachings and advantages of the embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended tobe included within the scope of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims,means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system operating a meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system comprising: a wirelessinterface device for communicating with a plurality of mesh accesspoints and one or more client devices connected via a plurality ofwireless links forming a mesh wireless network, where each of theplurality of mesh access points is capable of routing one or moreincoming wireless links to one or more downstream mesh access points orclient devices; a processor executing code instructions of the meshnetwork link aggregation optimization system to: receive measuredtraffic and quality of service of each of the plurality of links togenerate a congestion score for each of the plurality of wireless links;and aggregate links at a network layer between two of the plurality ofmesh access points within the mesh wireless network based onavailability of one or more radios at one or more of the plurality ofmesh access points for simultaneous transmission on a single bandbetween the two of the plurality of mesh access points to providewireless links within the mesh wireless network with congestion scoreswithin a preset congestion score threshold value.
 2. The informationhandling system of claim 1, wherein the single band on which the two ormore links are aggregated is a 5 GHz band.
 3. The information handlingsystem of claim 1, wherein the single band on which the two or morelinks are aggregated is a 2.4 GHz band.
 4. The information handlingsystem of claim 1, wherein the single band on which the two or morelinks are aggregated is a 60 GHz band.
 5. The information handlingsystem of claim 1 further comprising: determining a first of the one ormore client devices is not operating as an access point within the meshwireless network to transmit or receive data to or from a plurality ofaccess points or other client devices; and instructing the first one ofthe one or more client devices not operating as an access point to actas a mesh access point to transmit or receive data to or from aplurality of access points or other client devices.
 6. The informationhandling system of claim 5 further comprising: a processor of the firstof the one or more client devices instructed to operate as the meshaccess point aggregating the two or more links for simultaneoustransmission on the single band.
 7. The information handling system ofclaim 1 further comprising: the processor executing code instructions ofan ad-hoc routing algorithm to determine optimal link configurationsbetween each of the plurality of mesh access points including aggregatedlinks, and the one or more client devices.
 8. A method of optimizinglinks aggregated at the network layer across a wireless mesh networkcomprising: measuring via a process traffic and quality of service ofeach of a plurality of links routed by a plurality of antenna front endsbetween a plurality of mesh access points, and one or more clientdevices within a mesh wireless network; generating a congestion scorefor each of the plurality of wireless links based on the measuredtraffic and quality of service of each of the plurality of links;determining the congestion score for a congested one of the plurality ofwireless links indicates a low data rate below a preset congestionthreshold value; and aggregating two or more links at a determinedlocation within the wireless mesh network based on usage of the meshaccess points for simultaneous transmission on a single band via a frontend of a first one of the plurality of mesh access points and a secondone of the plurality of mesh access points such that the plurality oflinks has a congestion score that meets or exceeds the preset congestionthreshold value.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: performingan ad-hoc routing algorithm to determine optimal link configurationsbetween each of the plurality of mesh access points, and the one or moreclient devices based on the aggregated two or more links.
 10. The methodof claim 9 further comprising: determining a preset optimization timerhas elapsed; repeating the method of optimizing links aggregated at thenetwork layer across a wireless mesh network; and repeating the ad-hocrouting algorithm.
 11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:determining a preset optimization timer has elapsed; and repeating themethod of optimizing links aggregated at the network layer across thewireless mesh network.
 12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:determining a first one of the one or more client devices is notoperating as an access point within the mesh wireless network totransmit or receive data to or from a plurality of access points orother client devices; instructing the first one of the one or moreclient devices not operating as an access point to act as a mesh accesspoint to transmit or receive data to or from a plurality of accesspoints or other client devices; and repeating the optimizing of linksaggregated at the network layer across a wireless mesh network and thead-hoc routing algorithm.
 13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:periodically repeating the optimizing links aggregated at the networklayer across the wireless mesh network.
 14. The method of claim 12further comprising: instructing a first one of the one or more clientdevices not operating as an access point to act as a mesh access pointto transmit or receive data to or from a plurality of access points orother client devices.
 15. An information handling system operating amesh network link aggregation optimization system comprising: a wirelessinterface device and front end controller for communicating with aplurality of mesh access points and one or more client devices connectedvia a plurality of wireless links forming a mesh wireless network,wherein each of the plurality of mesh access points includes an antennafront end controller for routing one or more incoming wireless links toone or more downstream mesh access points or client devices; a processorexecuting code instructions of an ad-hoc routing algorithm to determineoptimal link configurations between each of the plurality of mesh accesspoints, and the one or more client devices via mesh network linkaggregation optimization to: measure traffic and quality of service ofeach of the plurality of links; generate a congestion score for each ofthe plurality of wireless links based on the measured traffic andquality of service of each of the plurality of links; determine that thecongestion score for at least one congested wireless link does not meeta preset congestion threshold value; determine available radios at analternate mesh access point or wireless device; aggregate links betweena plurality of mesh access points including the alternate mesh accesspoint or wireless device in the wireless mesh network based on usage atone or more of the plurality of mesh access points of a radio sharingmethod; and transmit a message to a front end controller of a first oneof the plurality of mesh access points aggregating two or more links ata network layer including the alternate mesh access point or wirelessdevice for simultaneous transmission on a single band to a second one ofthe plurality of mesh access points such that each of the plurality oflinks has a congestion score that meets or exceeds the preset congestionthreshold value.
 16. The information handling system of claim 15,wherein the single band on which the two or more links are aggregated isa 5 GHz band.
 17. The information handling system of claim 15, whereinthe single band on which the two or more links are aggregated is a 2.4GHz band.
 18. The information handling system of claim 15, wherein thesingle band on which the two or more links are aggregated is a 60 GHzband.
 19. The information handling system of claim 15 furthercomprising: determining a first one of the one or more client devices isnot operating as an access point within the mesh wireless network totransmit or receive data to or from a plurality of access points orother client devices; and instructing the first one of the one or moreclient devices not operating as an access point to act as a mesh accesspoint to transmit or receive data to or from a plurality of accesspoints or other client devices to generate additional links for use inthe ad-hoc routing algorithm.
 20. The information handling system ofclaim 15 further comprising: the ad hoc routing algorithm toperiodically repeat the optimizing links aggregated at the network layeracross the wireless mesh network.